Author: Adrian DeWald

Residual stress analysis

by Adrian DeWald

Material fabrication processes like forging, rolling, extrusion, quenching, additive manufacturing, machining, and welding lock spatially varying residual stress fields into structural materials. These residual stresses can influence the way that materials perform (e.g., fatigue, fracture, distortion, and corrosion). Hill Engineering has developed expertise to support many different types of residual stress analysis, which we apply to help our customers manage residual stresses effectively in design. The following are some examples of residual stress analysis. Continue reading Residual stress analysis

Residual stress in welding

by Adrian DeWald

Welding is a very common manufacturing process that is used to join materials together to form assemblies and systems. In many cases the welded joints are large, have reduced material properties (e.g., stress corrosion cracking resistance, fracture toughness), and contain defects. The welded joints tend to be critical locations in terms of design and sustainment. For this reason, residual stress in welding is a primary concern. Hill Engineering has extensive experience with residual stress measurements and welding residual stress. Continue reading Residual stress in welding

Welcome Frank Di Cocco

by Adrian DeWald

We would like to welcome Frank Di Cocco as Program Development Manager to Hill Engineering. Frank comes to Hill Engineering with more than 25 years of experience, most recently from Alcoa Technical Center. At Alcoa, Frank was the Manager of Alcoa Defense Aerospace, where he directed government and commercial aerospace programs focused on developing structures technologies. Frank brings valuable experience leading large, multi-year aerospace programs as a prime government contractor and managing diverse teams of OEM and technical specialists like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, BAES, and Northrop Grumman. Continue reading Welcome Frank Di Cocco

Happy Birthday to the Contour Method!

by Adrian DeWald

Today marks a major milestone in the field of residual stress measurement. The contour method, one of the most useful and advanced residual stress measurement techniques, was first successfully implemented on this date (August 16th) in 1999 by Mike Prime at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The most significant feature of the contour method is its ability to generate detailed two-dimensional residual stress maps like the one shown below. Please join us in wishing the contour method a very happy 17th birthday! Continue reading Happy Birthday to the Contour Method!

International Light Water Reactor Materials Reliability Conference

by Adrian DeWald

Hill Engineering is presenting about residual stress in welding as part of the EPRI International Light Water Reactor Materials Reliability Conference and Exhibition. The objective of the conference is to gather the leading domestic and international nuclear engineers, materials scientists, and vendors in a forum for discussing and reporting the latest research regarding the reliability of materials in Light Water Reactor Vessels and their components. Hill Engineering’s presentation will include a summary of recent work on residual stress measurement for an excavate and weld repair mockup. The abstract text is presented below. Continue reading International Light Water Reactor Materials Reliability Conference

ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference

by Adrian DeWald

Hill Engineering is proud to deliver a presentation as part of the David Smith Memorial Symposium at the upcoming ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference. The presentation delivered at PVP2016 will include a summary of recent work on residual stress measurement for an excavate and weld repair mockup that was performed in collaboration with EPRI. This novel work will help the industry address issues related to residual stress in welding. The abstract text is presented below. Continue reading ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference

Welcome Robert Pilarczyk

by Adrian DeWald

We would like to welcome Robert (Bob) Pilarczyk to Hill Engineering. Bob has worked in the United States Air Force A-10 ASIP office (Hill Air Force Base) for the past 10+ years, most recently as the group leader of a team responsible for the structural integrity of the A-10 fleet. In this role Bob functioned as the division technical expert in the field of aircraft structural integrity, structural analysis, and fatigue analysis for the purpose of solving unusual and difficult strength, fatigue, fracture, corrosion, and design challenges for the A-10 weapon system. Continue reading Welcome Robert Pilarczyk

Hill Engineering opens new facility

by Adrian DeWald

Hill Engineering, LLC, answering strong demand for its residual stress measurement, fatigue analysis and design, and residual stress engineering services, today opened a new facility in Rancho Cordova, CA. The newly renovated building will feature a combination of laboratory, research and development, and office space; all of which are important as Hill Engineering works tenaciously to meet the needs of our current projects while at the same time keeping an eye towards innovation and new opportunities. The move provides Hill Engineering with additional space to house our growing team of experts. For more information, please visit hill-engineering.com. Continue reading Hill Engineering opens new facility

Residual stress measurement inside a welded pipe

by Adrian DeWald

The inner diameter of pipes is a critical location for design and performance assessment. Corrosion, fatigue, and stress corrosion cracking often attack the pipe inner diameter, which can lead to leakage and possible failure of the system. Tensile residual stresses in welded pipe joints can have a significant impact on structural integrity and performance because they accelerate crack initiation and growth. In engineering design, understanding the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses on the pipe inner diameter allows accurate structural assessment and planning for inspection. Measuring residual stress on the pipe inner diameter is challenging and provided a unique opportunity to express our commitment to innovation. Continue reading Residual stress measurement inside a welded pipe

Groundbreaking for new facility

by Adrian DeWald

Hill Engineering would like to announce the groundbreaking on our new facility. This marks an important milestone in a year-long process to evolve and grow our infrastructure. Our new facility will provide us with additional space, which will allow us to be more responsive to new opportunities in residual stress measurement and fatigue engineering. Furthermore, the facility has been carefully designed to provide an optimal environment for advancement of our precision testing laboratory. We are looking forward to the Grand Opening in early June, 2016.

Construction will be performed by DesCor Builders a licensed general contractor based in Northern California. Our construction superintendent, Al Candela is pictured below. We know that you and your team will do a great job!